Weekend Multi-Vehicle Accidents Shut Down PA Interstates

A rash of multi-vehicle accidents shut down portions of I-79 and I-80 Saturday leaving hundreds of motorists stranded for hours.  The accidents were attributed to the winter weather and near white-out conditions.  The Weather Channel reported there was a visibility of just one quarter-mile with heavy snow falling and winds gusting up to 35 miles per hour at the time of the accidents. 

A 20-vehicle pileup on I-80 in Venango County, just east of the I-79/I-80 interchange near Franklin, PA, left three people dead and at least six people injured. The interstate was shut down for hours as police and rescue workers cleared the wreckage.  At one point traffic was backed up for over 13 miles.  School buses and rescue squad vehicles were used to bring nearly 75 stranded motorists to the Clintonville fire hall where they could eat and stay warm.  That accident occurred around 3:45 p.m.

Earlier in the day on I-79 near exit 130 in Mercer another accident involving over 30 vehicles, including at least two semi-trucks, shut down the interstate for close to three hours.  According to the news reports, both the southbound and northbound lanes were closed so crews could clear vehicles and transport the injured. Over 15 wreckers were needed to remove the damaged vehicles.  No fatalities or injuries were reported.  

Multiple other crashes were reported around the areas due to the poor visibility. 

These accidents come on the heels of other deadly multi-vehicle accidents in Florida and Tennessee.  In Tennessee, a wintry mix was to blame for an 18-vehichle crash on I-75 in Campbell County, TN, that left dozens injured on Feb. 19.  On Jan. 29, a 19 vehicle pile-up on I-75 near Gainesville, Florida left eleven people dead and at least 21 people injured. 

Our Pennsylvania car accident attorneys extend our condolences to all the families involved in these tragic accidents.  We also encourage everyone to drive carefully as bad weather causes dangerous driving conditions. 

Contact Our Car Accident Attorneys Today 

If you have been injured or a loved one killed in a vehicle accident that was caused by another person’s carelessness or recklessness, you may be able to recover damages that include medical costs, property loss, lost wages, and pain and suffering.  Please call Munley, Munley & Cartwright’s lawyers at 1-800-318-LAW1 for a free assessment of your case or use our Free Online Accident Case Evaluation.

Car Accident Round-Up – Policeman Dies in Car Chase in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Car Chase Leads to Policeman’s Death
According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, police stopped a 35-year-old man suspected of an earlier hit-and-run accident in Granville, WV early Saturday morning.  The man refused to get out of his car, and drove off leading police on a car chase into Pennsylvania.  A WV police sergeant had pulled his SUV off the road on I-79 near the one-mile marker in PA and was ready to assist in stopping the vehicle when the suspect crashed into the SUV. The policeman was taken to the nearby hospital where he was later pronounced dead. The suspect was arrested on suspicion of homicide by vehicle while police await toxicology test results.  Police believe the man was driving drunk and taking prescription anti-anxiety drugs. 

Three U.S. Marines Die in CA Car Accident, One Injured
San Diego 6 reports an early Tuesday morning crash last week left three Camp Pendleton U.S. Marines dead and another Marine, the driver of the vehicle, critically injured.  The accident occurred around 2:00 a.m. after the car was heading northbound on rain-slicked, Golden Lantern Street when the driver apparently lost control of the vehicle, struck the curb then slammed into a tree. The two back-seat passengers were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver and a third passenger were taken to the hospital, where the passenger later died.  Police believe alcohol and excessive speed were the primary causes of the accident. 

Kentucky DUI Accident Kills One
According to WHAS 11, the driver in a single-car crash last weekend in Louisville now faces charges of assault, wanton endangerment, and DUI after a passenger died.  The alcohol-impaired driver lost control of his vehicle on a curve on Grinstead Drive and crashed into a tree, causing his passenger to be ejected.  The passenger died several days later. The driver and a second passenger both ran from the scene of the accident.  Police are awaiting toxicology results. 

Two People Die in Fiery VA Wreck
Two people are dead after a violent single-car crash last Tuesday in Goodview, VA, according to WSET-TV. A pickup truck was traveling down Mill Iron Road when it gathered excessive speed, went airborne near the railroad tracks and slammed into a grocery store. The truck burst into flames.  The driver was pulled from the wreckage and was airlifted to the local hospital where he later died.  The passenger was pronounced dead at the scene. 

Contact Our Car Accident Attorneys Today
If you have been injured or a loved one killed in a vehicle accident that was caused by another person’s carelessness or recklessness, you may be able to recover damages that include medical costs, property loss, lost wages, and pain and suffering.  Please call Munley, Munley & Cartwright’s lawyers at 1-800-318-LAW1 for a free assessment of your case or use our Free Online Accident Case Evaluation.

Alcohol-Related Crash in Pennsylvania Takes Life of WV Policeman

A man fleeing police led them on a chase from West Virginia into Pennsylvania where the suspect slammed into a police cruiser, killing 41-year-old Monongalia County, WV Sgt. Michael Todd May.  According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the suspect was arrested on suspicion of homicide by vehicle, and police are awaiting BAC test results.  Police believe the man was driving drunk and taking prescription anti-anxiety drugs. 

The Saturday morning accident occurred after police stopped a 35-year-old man suspected of an earlier hit-and-run accident.  Instead of getting out of the car, the man drove off.  May had pulled his SUV off the road on I-79 near the one-mile marker and was ready to assist in stopping the vehicle when the suspect crashed into him. 

May leaves behind his parents and a younger brother. He loved hunting, fishing and riding his Harley with his buddies, and had a reputation for being willing to give the shirt off his back to help his friends, according to news reports. 

“I don’t know anybody that could ever say anything bad about him,” Monongalia County Sheriff Al Kisner said. 

 Officer Down reports 19 policemen have died in the line of duty in the United States this year.  Seven of the deaths were automobile accidents.  May was the first WV policeman to die this year. 

The Pennsylvania Dept. of Transportation reports drinking and driving is a top safety issue for the state. In 2010, there were 12,426 alcohol-related crashes resulting in 459 fatalities. On average, according to the PA DOT, each day 34 alcohol-related traffic crashes occur. 

Our Pennsylvania automobile accident attorneys extend our condolences to the family of Officer May and to all families who have suffered a loss in an accident on our Pennsylvania highways this year. 

Contact Our Car Accident Attorneys Today 

If you have been injured or a loved one killed in a vehicle accident that was caused by another person’s carelessness or recklessness, you may be able to recover damages that include medical costs, property loss, lost wages, and pain and suffering.  

Please call Munley, Munley & Cartwright’s lawyers at 1-800-318-LAW1 for a free assessment of your case or use our Free Online Accident Case Evaluation.

Pennsylvania Teenaged Drivers Urged to Stay Alert and Follow Safe Driving Practices

The start of 2012 has seen far too many teens lose their lives in car accidents.  Just last week a local Pennsylvania teen died when his car skidded on ice and he crashed into a building, dying at the scene. Earlier this month, three teenagers traveling together went the wrong way on a MD road resulting in a crash that killed all three.  And in Virginia at the end of January, one teen died and three others were seriously injured when the teen driver crossed the center line striking another vehicle.  

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), car accidents are the number one killer of teenagers in the United States, claiming nearly 5,600 teenage lives each year. While the above accidents are all unique, the cause of each of the accidents may not have been that different.  The NHTSA has identified four primary causes for serious teen injury accidents:  inexperience and immaturity combined with speed, drinking and driving, not wearing seat belts, distracted driving and drowsy driving.  

With a mission to keep families safe on America’s roadways, the NHTSA is continually introducing new campaigns aimed at educating teens of common hazards encountered when driving.  Its latest campaign, “Stop the Texts, Stop the Wrecks,” brings to light the dangers of texting while driving.  While aimed at teens, the campaign highlights facts that also alert adults and parents to the extreme dangers of texting and driving.  Parents should take a tough stance with their teen drivers in ensuring that they do not text while driving. 

The NHTSA site offers 30 facts related to texting and driving, including: 

• A texting driver is 23 times more likely to get into a crash than a non-texting driver.
• The age group with the greatest proportion of distracted drivers was the under-20 age group. 16% of all drivers younger than 20 involved in fatal crashes were reported to have been distracted while driving.
• Using a cell phone while driving, whether it’s handheld or hands-free, delays a driver’s reactions as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08 percent. 

According to the National Safety Council (NSC), nearly one-fourth of all crashes, or approximately 1.3 million auto accidents each year, can be attributed to cell phone use while driving. The NSC also found that distractions now join alcohol and speeding as leading factors in all automobile accidents. 

The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) reports that, “sleep-related crashes are most common in young people, who tend to stay up late, sleep too little, and drive at night.”  NSF further reports, in a 2006 poll, more than half of teens (51%) admit to having driven drowsy in the past year. 

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation reports in 2010, 1,324 people lost their lives on Pennsylvania highways. 87,949 more were injured.  27,351 of the drivers involved in those crashes were under the age of 21. The PA DMV reports that in 2010 there were 99,001 licensed teen drivers in the state. 

Our Pennsylvania car accident attorneys applaud the efforts of the NHTSA for bringing to the public’s attention some of the dangerous behaviors of teen drivers.  We urge Pennsylvania adults and parents to lead by example, and follow the laws, eliminate distractions, use your seatbelt and don’t drink and drive.

About Munley, Munley & Cartwright, P.C.

Munley, Munley & Cartwright, P.C., is a Pennsylvania accident and injury law firm that represents car accident victims and their families throughout the state of Pennsylvania and the Northeast, including those injured in accidents that involve speeding, distracted driving, drunk driving, fatigued driving, aggressive driving and careless driving in hazardous weather conditions. The Pennsylvania personal injury law firm’s additional practice areas include trucking accidents, motorcycle accidents, medical malpractice, defective products, toxic chemicals, workplace injuries, nursing home litigation and other serious accidents.

Munley, Munley & Cartwright, P.C., has offices throughout Pennsylvania, including Scranton, Stroudsburg, Carbondale, Plains, Hazleton and Hamlin. To contact the law firm, call (800) 318-LAW1 or use the firm’s online contact form.

Car Accident Round-Up – Wrong-Way Driver in Louisiana Crashes Killing Five People

Head-On Accident in New Orleans Kills Five
CBS News reports a driver heading the wrong way on I-10 near New Orleans, Louisiana crashed head-on into another car around 3 a.m. Friday leaving five people dead.  The driver of a Jeep Grand Cherokee was driving eastbound in the westbound lanes of I-10 when he crashed into the other vehicle.  The Jeep burst into flames upon impact, killing the driver, and lone occupant, as well as all four occupants in the other vehicle.  Two other vehicles were involved in the accident, but no injuries were reported. The westbound lanes were closed for nearly five hours as crews cleared the accident scene.  Police are continuing to investigate.

Pennsylvania Teen Dies in Car Crash
A 19-year-old teen was on his way home from the mall sometime after 8 p.m. last Thursday night when his car apparently skidded on ice causing him to crash into a building, according to LeHighValleyLive.com.  The accident scene, on Bushkill Drive in Forks Township, PA, 30 miles south of Stroudsburg, was not found until around 7:30 a.m. the next morning.  The car was found crashed into a concrete and metal warehouse-style building along a curve of Bushkill Drive, west of Mitman Road.  The teen was pronounced dead at the scene.

Fatal Single-Car Accident in Florida
An article in Ocala.com reports three men are dead and two others are listed in critical condition after the car in which they were driving crashed early Saturday morning.  The car was heading east on County Road 464 in Silver Springs Shores, FL, when the driver apparently lost control of the vehicle.  According to reports, the car veered to the right and onto the shoulder, where it continued traveling down the rain-slicked, grassy shoulder.  The car then sideswiped a tree, spun counterclockwise, and struck a second tree, which broke the car in two.  The three deceased were in the back seat of the car.  Both the driver and the front-seat passenger were ejected from the vehicle.

Child Dies at School Bus Stop in Minnesota
The Star Tribune reports a 7-year-old boy waiting for a school bus around 8 a.m. Friday morning in Montrose, Minnesota was killed when the driver of a car ran a red light, crossed several lanes and struck the boy as he stood on the sidewalk.  The car then crashed into a stand of trees and rolled over.  The driver of the car died at the scene of the accident.  Police say the driver was en-route home from a night shift job.  They are continuing to investigate the crash.

Contact Our Car Accident Attorneys Today
If you have been injured or a loved one killed in a vehicle accident that was caused by another person’s carelessness or recklessness, you may be able to recover damages that include medical costs, property loss, lost wages, and pain and suffering.  Please call Munley, Munley & Cartwright’s lawyers at 1-800-318-LAW1 for a free assessment of your case or use our Free Online Accident Case Evaluation.

Tragic Pennsylvania Accident Serves as a Reminder of Child Safety Restraint Requirements

A crash earlier this month in Nicholson Township, about 25 miles outside of Scranton, PA, left a man and his 3-year-old daughter dead.  According to an article in the Times-Tribune, the man, who was driving a pickup truck, crossed the center line on West Nicholson Road and struck another pickup head-on.  The police report that while the father was wearing a seat belt, the toddler was not in either a child-safety seat or in a seat belt.  The girl and her father were both pronounced dead at the scene from “massive traumatic” injuries. 

Our Pennsylvania car accident attorneys have seen the devastation that automobile accidents can cause, and we know that sometimes restraints cannot protect the lives of those in accidents. However, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that when properly restrained infants have a 71% greater chance of surviving a car crash and toddlers have a 54 percent decrease in the risk of death. Further, the NHTSA reports that injury risks for children using “belt-positioning booster seats,” as opposed to seat belts alone, are reduced by 59 percent. 

The Pennsylvania Drivers Manual notes that vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death and injury to children in the United States. In Pennsylvania each year, approximately 7,000 children under five years of age are involved in crashes. 

Pennsylvania law requires children to be properly restrained.  Following are the requirements, as listed in the PA Drivers Manual: 

• Children under the age of four must be buckled into a federally-approved child safety seat, which must be secured to the vehicle by the seat belt system, no matter where the child rides in the vehicle.
• Children ages four and older, but under the age of eight, must be buckled into a federally-approved child booster seat, which must be secured to the vehicle by the seat belt system, no matter where they ride in a vehicle. Booster seats must be used in conjunction with lap and shoulder belts.
• Children ages eight and older, but under age 18 must be buckled in a seat belt, no matter where they ride in the vehicle.
• Drivers are responsible for securing children into an approved child passenger restraint system and ensuring children under age 18 are buckled up.

Pennsylvania drivers should also educate themselves on safety issues associated with specific car seats, and review the guidelines published by the NHTSA for car seat recommendations.

Our personal injury attorneys encourage all drivers to use safety restraints when traveling Pennsylvania highways.  Using seatbelts and child safety seats are the most important steps you can take for ensuring you and your loved ones arrive safely at your destination.

Contact Our Car Accident Attorneys Today 

If you have been injured or a loved one killed in a vehicle accident that was caused by another person’s carelessness or recklessness, you may be able to recover damages that include medical costs, property loss, lost wages, and pain and suffering.  Please call Munley, Munley & Cartwright’s lawyers at 1-800-318-LAW1 for a free assessment of your case or use our Free Online Accident Case Evaluation.

Pennsylvania Company Recalls Gas Furnaces Over Fire Hazard

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), along with Health Canada, announced the recall of nearly 226,000 home furnaces. The furnaces are manufactured by Unitary Products Group (UPG) of York International Corp of York, Pennsylvania, and have been linked to home fires. 

York issued a voluntary recall after reporting that the potential exists for the furnaces to overheat and cause the heat-exchanger to crack and create openings that allow flames to be exposed. This poses a fire and smoke hazard to consumers. 

The same furnaces had previously been recalled in 2004 when the company received 27 reports of fires. As of the recall announced Feb. 3, the company had received nearly 400 reports of related incidents.  Although no injuries have been reported, extensive property damage has been reported. 

The recall involves Coleman, Coleman Evcon and Red T brand furnaces.  For a full list of models see the CPSC recall notice. 

Consumers should immediately stop using the furnace until it has been inspected and repaired. Consumers should contact UPG to schedule a free inspection and repair of any furnace involved in the recall. 

The Munley, Munley, & Cartwright law firm has years of experience in personal injury claims.  If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective product or substance as a result of the carelessness or negligence of another, call our office today at 1-800-318-LAW1 for a free assessment of your case or use our Free Online Case Evaluation.

Car Accident Round-Up – PA Accident Claims Father and Daughter

Father and Child Die in Pennsylvania Head-On Accident
 A Wednesday night crash in Nicholson Township, about 25 miles outside of Scranton, PA, left a man and his 3-year-old daughter dead.  The Times-Tribune reports the deceased man was driving a Chevy Silverado when he apparently crossed the center line on West Nicholson Road and struck a Dodge pickup head-on.  The driver of the Dodge was treated for minor injuries at the hospital and was later released.  The police report the child was not restrained in the vehicle and died from “massive traumatic” injuries. She and her father were both pronounced dead at the scene. Police are continuing to investigate the accident.

Chain-Reaction Accident in CT Caused by Drugged Driver
Police in Norwalk, CT say a woman who was on a day-long crack binge, and was fleeing officers, caused a chain-reaction accident on I-95 last week causing the interstate to be shut down for hours, leading to mile long backups. CTPost.com reports the woman was driving over 135 mph when she side-swiped a car that then struck a tractor-trailer, causing the truck to overturn and catch fire.  The truck driver was taken to the hospital and was last reported in stable condition.  The woman who caused the accident did not stop and was arrested at her apartment hours later.  She was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, reckless driving and driving while under suspension, and police say she faces additional charges. 

Fatal Single-Car Accident in California
A California man died in a single-vehicle crash in Coronado last week after the car he was driving careened off the highway and landed on its side near the San Diego Bay.  10News.com reports the man had been driving the wrong way in the northbound lanes of state Route 75 near Fiddler’s Cove Marina when he veered off the road and tumbled down an embankment. The 62-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene.  He was alone in the vehicle.

Child Riding Scooter Dies When Struck by Vehicle
According to Fox Carolina, a Liberty, South Carolina 7-year-old died when she was struck by a vehicle while riding her scooter last week.  The girl was crossing the street near the intersection of Odell and Peachtree Streets when an oncoming vehicle struck her. The driver of the vehicle was not injured.  The young girl was pronounced dead at the local hospital. Troopers said the Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team was investigating the crash. 

Contact Our Car Accident Attorneys Today
If you have been injured or a loved one killed in a vehicle accident that was caused by another person’s carelessness or recklessness, you may be able to recover damages that include medical costs, property loss, lost wages, and pain and suffering.  Please call Munley, Munley & Cartwright’s lawyers at 1-800-318-LAW1 for a free assessment of your case or use our Free Online Accident Case Evaluation.

Home Explosion Award Totals $1.72 Million

A couple whose Iowa home was destroyed in a propane explosion in 2008 has been awarded $1.72 million by a Waterloo, Iowa, jury. 

New Century FS, a subsidiary of Growmark, was found 40 percent at fault for not warning the family about the limits of odor-causing chemicals injected into the gas and the importance of leak detectors. 

The woman, who suffered second and third degree burns after the explosion, will receive just $500,000 after the breakdown of liability. She and her husband were found 30 percent at fault.  A portion of the final payment will go to the insurance company and for attorney fees. 

J.C. Plumbing Co, who settled out of court, was found 30 percent liable after nicking the underground line.  The husband was awarded $60,000 for loss of consortium. 

If you have been injured or a loved one died in a personal injury accident that was caused by another person’s carelessness or recklessness, you may be able to recover damages that include medical costs, property loss, lost wages, and pain and suffering.  Please call Munley, Munley & Cartwright’s lawyers at 877-918-1198 for a free assessment of your case or use our free online case evaluation.

Iowa Sledding Accident Lawsuit Settled for $2.75 Million

The Sioux City Journal reports a man injured in a sledding accident and his family will be paid $2.75 million to settle a lawsuit. 

The man was paralyzed from the waist down after he slid into a sign while sleigh riding in Sertoma Park in Sioux City.  He injured his spinal cord when he was unable to stop before hitting the sign. 

Sioux City will pay $487,632, the city’s insurance company will pay $1.97 million and “a third party” will pay $300,000. 

The accident occurred on Jan. 11, 2008, and the lawsuit was filed in January 2010. 

If you have been a victim of personal injury accident due to the negligence or carelessness of another, you may be eligible for compensation. Although money cannot restore a livelihood or bring back a loved one, it can ease the burden that Pennsylvania families face in the wake of a catastrophic accident, workplace injury or devastating medical error.    

Please call Munley, Munley & Cartwright’s lawyers at 877-918-1198 for a free assessment of your case or use our free online case evaluation.